As a Francophile, Bastille Day is one of my favorite days of the year. 🇫🇷 It isn’t surprising because a ❤️ love ❤️ of everything French is common amongst the women in my family. So when we all get together, I love to mix up and serve cocktails inspired by my visits to France. These are perfect as Bastille Day Cocktail Recipes if you celebrate La Fête Nationale or Le 14 Juillet as we do!
Bastille Day Cocktail Recipes
I have two classics that I never tire of making larger batches of. They whip up quickly, and easily, and are always beloved by those who drink them. I also have a more complicated Bastille Day cocktail recipe that’s a bit more fun. It’s also more labor-intensive.
Grey Goose Spritz
This first one is my take on a drink I had during a trip to Paris with Grey Goose in 2016. 🍸 It was a big hit!! Perfect for summer at the lake house (which I imagined was in Provence bien sur) and easy enough to make over & over while talking, visiting or receiving hugs from a nephew.
I’m not a bartender so I don’t do measurements, I just eyeball everything. Je suis désolée! This is what I combine with a gentle motion because of the tonic in a shaker filled with ice. Then I pour it into glasses garnished with a slice of lemon and a slice of lime:
- Grey Goose Le Citron
- ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liqueur
- already chilled Fever-tree Tonic – Regular or Elderflower if you really like the taste of elderflower like I do!
- a dash of Rose’s West India Sweetened Lime Juice
I like to use etched gimlet glasses if I want a smaller serving, like these. Or a longer stem “spritz glass” if I prefer a larger serving, like these. This is the Vodka. Buy the elderflower liqueur and this is a nonalcoholic syrup you could substitute. I prefer this sweetened lime juice by Rose’s. Though you could use another brand.
Lillet Tonic
There are certain French products I try to make sure I never run out of. One of those things is Lillet Blanc and Lillet Rouge. I discovered the brand while visiting France early in my career and it was pretty much love at first sip. That’s why I was so glad to work with them in 2018. Lillet makes a great starter for easy summer cocktails. I’ll take it to the beach, bring it to the pool in our building, or take it as a hostess gift. It easily slips into bags and picnic baskets with ease. After all, some of my friends love all things French as much as I do. Check out the video I made for Lillet.
The easiest of Lillet cocktails is my take on a Lillet and tonic. To make it, combine in equal parts over ice and swirl with a good cocktail stirrer. Like the one in this set.
- Lillet Blanc
- Fever-tree Elderflower Tonic
I usually serve this in an embossed tumbler garnished with fresh fruit, a sprig of mint, or cucumber. These are similar to what I have. This is the tonic.
Lillet Rouge can also simply be combined with tonic over ice but I think the complexity of it, calls for something fancier. These ideas from PUNCH are solid. I want to make the oloroso sherry and cinnamon syrup that’s mentioned. In France, they simply pour it over ice and garnish with a slice of orange.
Elderflower in the Garden
I came up with this one on my own. It somehow reminded me of strolling in the garden while sipping a cocktail in Provence. Yet it felt like my own take on all my trips to different parts of Europe. Because of the S.Pellegrino. And how many different places I have enjoyed cocktails with elderflower in them from France to Austria, Germany, and more.
- Muddle organic Italian basil, mint and slices of Meyer or regular lemons in the bottom of a cocktail shaker
- Add ST-GERMAIN® Elderflower Liqueur or a nonalcoholic elderflower syrup, an herby or citrusy gin, and several ice cubes into the shaker
- Shake vigorusly
- Strain into your glass or glasses
- Add S.Pellegrino and lightly stir
- Top with ice cubes and a fresh sprig of mint
You could be extra by freezing drops of edible peppermint oil in ice cubes and dropping them in at the end. It gives a little surprise to the drink as you sip it. Just be careful how much oil you use in the ice cubes. You’ll need a good strainer like this one unless you don’t mind bits of greens. Then you could use this one. I recommend this muddler. I’ve played around with different glasses for this. I prefer highballs like these, and coupes like these.
